Female kicker breaks barriers, kicks away stereotypes in Texas high school football
Emma Young is knocking down barriers in Texas high school football.
Young, a junior, is a kicker for Mansfield Timberview (8-0, 6-0). The undefeated Wolves are the No. 3 ranked Class 5A D1 team in the state.
In 2022, Young became the first female kicker in the school’s history to kick an extra point in the postseason. Now, she’s the Wolves’ go-to player for extra points, field goals and kickoffs.
Young’s main sport is soccer and she’s been playing the majority of her life. During her freshman season at Timberview, she made the All-District 8-5A Second Team as a goalie.
Young wanted to play football because it was “something new to try.” Emma Young’s father, Jason Young, is Timberview’s defensive line coach. She said he was one of her biggest supporters and motivators.
“I told her ‘as long as it doesn’t take away from soccer, I don’t have a problem with it,’” Jason Young said. “If you can kick it, you can kick it. I’m not going to tell her she can’t because she is a girl. Obviously, she can put it through the uprights. That’s what is important for us on a team level.”
The Mansfield Timberview JV team didn’t have a kicker and Young didn’t want to play volleyball, so she decided to join the team.
Since Young began her football career on JV, she worked her way up and made the varsity team in her sophomore year. Now, she has a prominent role with Timberview, the No. 2 ranked Class 5A team in the Star-Telegram’s Fort Worth-area rankings.
When kicking, Young says she has a simple process: “Just plant the foot and swing.” She has made 47 of 54 PAT attempts this season; two of the misses were a result of a block.
“I just try to keep my mind blank,” Young said. “Just say ‘just kick the ball.’ If I overthink it, then I know I’m going to mess it up. I really just try to stay calm and go through my routine, I guess.”
Young said her favorite moment playing football was a successful 41-yard field goal against Arlington Sam Houston on August 31. She said it was special for her teammates to celebrate the accomplishment with her. In the same game, she sent a 38-yard field goal through the uprights.
On the season, Young has made three out of four field goals with makes of 41-yards, 38-yards and 29-yards. Against Dallas Sunset, Young attempted a 45-yard field goal.
DeSanto said the kick had “plenty of distance” but missed wide left due to the snap and the hold. Young credited strength coach Kirk Davis, who has helped her improve her kicking power.
“He’s helped with strength and getting my legs stronger,” Young said.
In big moments, Young said she focuses on the little things.
“Making sure my technique is right,” Young said. “Say that day it doesn’t look that good, I just try to slow it down a bit.”
Part of the Timberview ‘family’
Football, obviously, is a male dominated sport and there are potential physical challenges for female athletes. If a female athlete joins a football team, she’ll likely be the only girl on the squad. Young doesn’t let these “issues” bother her.
“Just try and do it,” Young said. “People are going to say stuff but at the end of the day you just got to work on improving. You’ve just got to prove them wrong, pretty much.”
Young said she enjoys being part of Mansfield Timberview football and loves the atmosphere, her coaches and her teammates.
“We’re a family,” Young said.
Quarterback Zuric Humes said being teammates with Emma Young is a “win-win.”
“She’s a very cool person and she’s very good at her position,” Humes said.
Athlete Cameron Bates said it’s fun being teammates with Young. He said having her as a teammate is normal, especially due to her talent and ability and added that she wants to be treated the same as everyone else on the team.
Rising up in big moments
Kickers have very specific roles on the team. Similarly to everyone else, Young has a job to: be the best kicker she can be. She focuses on what she can control.
DeSanto said she has more leg strength than some of her teammates and added she’s mentally strong in the way she carries herself.
“Nothing seems to bother her,” DeSanto said. “At least she doesn’t allow it to on the outside. No matter what the situation she’s in. She’s comfortable around the guys. Probably has to do with her dad being a coach forever.”
DeSanto said it’s been an awesome experience coaching Young.
“It was my goal early in the season to put her out there and give her opportunity to prove that she can be a weapon,” Young said. “We won our scrimmage against Legacy 3-0 because she kicked. Nobody else scored.”
DeSanto said they could’ve gone for it, but that the right move was to let Young kick. He said he knew she could “rise up in big situations.”
“We weren’t that far from getting a first down,” DeSanto said. “I said ‘nope. Let’s kick a field goal.’ And she banged it through.”
Young said the trust the coaching staff has in her ability boosts her confidence.
“Because they know I can do it,” Young said. “So, I shouldn’t doubt myself. If they believe in me, then I’m going to do it for them.”
Jason Young said his daughter’s improvements in football have translated to the soccer field, where she is “kicking the crud” out of the ball.
“If you asked me 30 years ago if I’d have a daughter playing football, I would’ve probably lost money on that bet,” Jason Young said. “It’s impressive. She does her job, and that’s what we ask anybody on the team to do.”
Mansfield Timberview is set to face Richland with the District 5-5A D1 championship on the line on Friday at Birdville FA/AC. Both teams are undefeated and have secured playoff bids. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT.
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